Second phase polling .... brisk voting .... Did Modi shake up the 'Hindu middle class' ? -- usually the lazy lot !!

Voting started in the Jammu-Reasi Lok Sabha constituency on Friday with enthusiastic voters reaching the booths in their traditional Dogra dresses to exercise the franchise.

(Among those in the fray include Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje (Bengaluru North), former CM and state JD-S President H.D. Kumaraswamy (Mandya), Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar’s brother D.K. Suresh (Bengaluru Rural), Tejasvi Surya (Bengaluru South), 

former PM H.D. Deve Gowda’s son-in-law C.N. Manjunath (Bengaluru Rural), royal scion Yaduveer Wadiyar (Mysuru-Kodagu), and senior BJP leader V. Somanna (Tumakuru) among others.) 

 In Karnataka, voting is for 14 Lok Sabha seats :::::: Rahul Dravid, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman among early voters

Former cricketer Rahul Dravid and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman cast their votes in Bengaluru polling stations after voting for Karnataka’s 14 Lok Sabha seats began on Friday.

Rahul Dravid arrived at the Sriraksha School in Malleshwaram locality of Bengaluru, stood in the queue and exercised his franchise. After voting, Dravid appealed to the people to come out of their houses and create a new record in terms of voting. He also praised the facilities and arrangements made for voters at the polling booths.

Finance Minister Niramala Sitharaman arrived at the polling booth in Jayanagar and cast her vote. Religious seers of Astha Maths in Udupi, Siddaganga Seer of Tumakuru Siddaganga Mutt have also exercised their franchise.

BJP candidate from Tumakuru Lok Sabha seat V. Somanna, senior BJP leader and Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka, Bengaluru North Congress candidate M.V. Rajeev Gowda exercised their franchise in their respective polling stations.

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) Chief Commissioner Tushar Girinath has casted his vote at the Jakkur Primary school in Bengaluru along with his wife Manika Girinath.

Voting across 30,602 polling booths is underway in 14 Lok Sabha seats in state, primarily located in south Karnataka. There are more than 2.88 crore eligible voters in these constituencies

The special arrangements have been made to ensure smooth polling in the high-profile Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha Constituency. The constituency is witnessing a close contest between Congress candidate D.K. Suresh and BJP’s Dr. C.N. Manjunath.

Karnataka has 28 parliamentary seats and polling in the remaining 14 constituencies is slated for May 7.

Air Warrior ::: A Retired Air Force officer : 'Ayega toh ..... " :: After casting vote in Bengaluru 

All 14 seats in Karnataka in today's polls came to BJP's kitty in 2019.   

In Wayanad, Kerala, all eyes will be on the voting that will decide the fate of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed that Rahul will also try to contest another constituency. Speculation is rife about Amethi and Rae Bareli in Uttar Pradesh. 

In Wayanad, Ms Annie Raja, wife of D Raja, is contesting on the ticket of Communist Party of India (CPI) and BJP has fielded its state President K Surendran. 

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor faces competition from Union Minister of State and BJP candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar for the prestigious Thiruvananthapuram seat.

In Uttar Pradesh, actor-turned-politician Hema Malini is aiming for her third win from Mathura as a BJP candidate, while in Meerut, the BJP has nominated Ramayan actor Arun Govil as its candidate.  

Voting is underway for five Lok Sabha seats in Assam in the second phase of polls. Elections are taking place in Nagaon, Darrang-Udalguri, Diphu, Silchar and Karimganj parliamentary constituencies.